Blog

Women's Health

6/10/2022

This is one of my favourite figurines from the Willow Tree. I bought it for my Mum when my daughter was younger and for me it represents our three generations. Do you see yourself in this figurine? I see lots of women in my practice who find themselves in the Sandwich Generation. This is where they are sandwiched between dependent children and dependent parents. This Sandwich Generation has come about in the last 20th century due to having children later in life and increase in lifespan. When you add in working, running a household and a change in hormone balance it is no wonder many women can struggle with the demands of daily life. October is World Menopause Month with Tuesday 18th being World Menopause Day, and I'm sure we will be seeing lots in the media about the Menopause. There are lots of things women can do to help relieve some of the symptoms of menopause and having the support of those around them can really help. So for all the men reading please continue as you may be able to understand and help your partner, sister, mother or work colleague.

Holiday Health

30/6/2022

Whether you are going on holiday in the UK or abroad, or enjoying the summer at home here are a few tips to help you stay healthy this summer.

Men's Health

1/6/2022

Men's Health Week 13th to 19th June.

Some men are proactive about their health but the majority are not. What should men be looking out for with their health.

Bowel Cancer. The NHS offer a screening program for everyone between 60 and 74, although it will soon be extended to younger age groups. If you fall into this age category you will automatically be sent a stool sample kit. It is so simple to do and early detection and diagnose will improve your outcome.

Heart Disease. When was the last time you checked in on your heart, monitored your blood pressure or cholesterol? The NHS does offer health checks for everyone over 40, check with your GP to see if this is something your surgery is able to offer at this time.

Prostate Cancer. There is no NHS national screening program for prostate cancer, however if you have any concerns such as increase frequency in passing urine, blood in the urine, leaking urine or feeling like the bladder is not emptying, contact you GP to discuss if a PSA blood test is required.

Mental Health. How are you (or the men in your life) feeling. It has been a difficult few years for all of us and has had an impact on our physical and mental health. With uncertainty ahead, with cost of living increases what impact is this having? Do you (or the men in your life) talk about how you feel?

Mental Health Awareness

28/4/2022

How are you feeling as we return to a new normal? There has been a lot in the media about mental health and 9th to 15th of May this year is mental health awareness week.

I see many clients who are suffering with their mental health, whether it is depression, anxiety or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). There are lots of reasons people suffer with their mental health but I find a lot of clients have trauma stored in their body. This may be from bereavement, recent trauma or lots of things building up over the years. Other clients have suffered traumatic times in their childhood. PTSD is estimated to affect about 1 in every 3 people who have a traumatic experience, but it's not clear exactly why some people develop the condition and others do not.

The NHS definition of PTSD is an anxiety disorder caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events. This can be due to serious accidents, violent personal assaults (such as sexual assault, mugging or robbery), serious health problems, childbirth or childhood experiences. Some clients don't feel like they have had any traumas, but many behaviours can be a result of trauma. Having long work hours, not making time for oneself, always having to be good enough, or proving oneself to others can be a result of childhood experiences. Without understanding the origins of these patterns of behaviours it is difficult for life to change.

Are you getting enough sleep and why is sleep so important?

23/3/2022

When we are asleep the brain shrinks slightly to allow the glymphatic system to do its work. The glymphtic system is a system of perivascular tunnels around the blood vessels inside the brain that promotes efficient clearing of soluble proteins and metabolites from the central nervous system. This includes the clearing of Beta amyloid, an increase in Beta amyloid in the brain is linked to the build up of plaque in the brain and can lead to dementia. The brain also needs to be well hydrated in order for the fluid to circulate and 'wash' away the debris and bring fresh oxygen and nutrients.

How can you improve the quality and quantity of your sleep.

Happy Healthy Heart

5/2/2022

We are all aware of the messages about how to look after our heart.
Give up smoking, keep active by doing a minimum of 30 minutes of activity 5 times a week and to watch our weight. Cut down on salt and saturated fat and watch our alcohol intake.
Eat more fibre and have at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day.
But what about the connection with your emotional heart.
The connection between the physical and emotional body are so closely linked that an imbalance or upset in your emotions can cause physical symptoms.
I see clients who are suffering from stress and anxiety which can display in their body as heart palpations or feelings of tightness in the chest. This is usually due to the vagus nerve activating the sympathetic nervous system which prepares us to fight or flight in response to stress. When we calm the central nervous system the parasympathetic nervous system regulates the heart and breathing and allows us to rest and digest.
How often do you 'tune in' to your heart and really feel what is happening?

We have all heard of the the expressions
My heart skipped a beat
My heart was racing
My heart was in my mouth
Heart break

But what do these really feel like?

Here are a few tips on how to look after your emotional heart.

1. Spend a few moments each day connecting with your heart. What do you notice, how does it feel?

2. Take some deep breaths and notice how that feels, does it feel tight in your diaphragm or up in you shoulders or perhaps in the side of your ribs.

3. Take 5 full slow deep breathers. Try to do this at least twice a day, maybe before getting up in the morning (before reaching for your phone and checking your emails!) and when you get into bed. You can then incorporate this into other times of the day too. Simply by doing this you may notice that you start to calm your body and feel that your chest is expanding more easily.

4. Talk to someone about how you a feeling rather than bottling up emotions.

5. Reduce your stress by finding ways that calm your nervous system, this may be going for a walk, listening to music meeting up with a friend.

6. Book a Craniosacral Therapy appointment, which will help to calm the central nervous system, release any restrictions in your body such as tightness in the neck, shoulders or chest and encourage you to connect with your body and release any emotions.

If you are experiencing any chest pain or shortness of breath contact your doctor or call for an ambulance.

How are you settling into 2022?

14/1/2022

Monday 17th January is apparently Blue Monday, research back in 2005 showed the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year.
Many of us find ourselves in subzero weather, looking at our post-Christmas credit card bills and realising we might already be breaking our New Year’s resolutions.
It doesn't need to be like this, there are lots of things to be positive about!

Look after your body over the Festive Period

24/12/2021

It is more important than ever to look after yourself this year, with long hospital waiting times, lack of capacity in hospital, and the difficulties of getting a GP appointment. Here are a few simple tips to staying healthy over the festive season.

Is Craniosacral Therapy the missing piece of the jigsaw to the recovery of Long Covid?

16/11/2021

Clients are turning to Craniosacral therapy for the missing piece of the jigsaw in their recovery from Long Covid. Clients with Long Covid often report chronic fatigue, foggy head, poor sleep and numerous other collection of symptoms.

Craniosacral Therapy and the Immune System

2/11/2021

We have heard a lot over the past 20 months about the immune system and how is handles Covid. But what is your immune system, where is it in your body and what does it do? And what does it have to do with Craniosacral Therapy?